Anxiety and depression have many effects on the physical body, in fact, all mental health conditions affect the physical body because the mind and body are connected. This even comes out under anesthesia when you're having surgery!
The effects on the heart and brain are most pronounced, even when you're asleep under anesthesia. This is because anxiety and depression fundamentally alter the biochemical makeup of neurotransmitters running throughout the brain. and this still happens to an extent under anesthesia, but it does depend heavily on the dose of anesthesia and the type of surgery.
These effects that I share are just one example of how much mental health matters, even in the operating room!
